Study of the prevalence of sodium and potassium disturbances in the elderly

Background: Electrolyte disturbances establish a broad problem among old individuals. A medication adverse effect that in youngsters would deliver just a trifling change in the plasma sodium and potassium may cause a major serious effect in the older, mostly because of aging. This study was directed to assess the commonness of sodium and potassium disturbances in the old. Methods: A Cross-sectional study was completed among old patients who were regular visitors to Internal Medicine Department outpatient clinics of the Zagazig University from February 2018 to February 2019. This examination included 100 older patients. Results: Our examination revealed the predominance of hypokalemia was 17% and hyperkalemia was 25%. While hyponatremia was 32% and hypernatremia was 4%. Diuretics were the most affecting medication on potassium and sodium levels. No significant difference was found in age among potassium and sodium gatherings. Conclusion: In this study, we found that disturbances in the sodium and potassium are commonly found in the old and a few sorts of medications are assosciated with these disturbances however diuretics were the most commonly to be found. Different components, including polypharmacy , disabled organ work and numerous ailments, put them at a more serious danger of medication induced changes in electrolyte homeostasis. Specialists should know about this hazard and screen both medication records and sodium and potassium levels ,so as to counteract and deal with these disturbances that may some way or another further affect the health of these old and frail patients

Drug Interactions in Primary Health Care in the George Subdistrict; South Africa: a Cross-Sectional Study

Objectives: To investigate the prevalence of potential drug-drug interactions in primary healthcare clinics in the George subdistrict; to determine which drugs were involved; and to identify associated risk factors. Design: A cross-sectional retrospective folder review was performed.Setting and subjects: Four hundred randomly selected patient files from four primary care clinics in the George subdistrict. Outcome measures: The prevalence of potential drug-drug interactions in primary care; drugs involved in potential drug-drug interactions and associated risk factors. Results: The prevalence of scripts containing at least one moderate potential interaction was 42; severe potential interaction; 5.25; and contraindicated combinations; 0.5. The most common drugs involved were enalapril; aspirin; ibuprofen; furosemide and fluoxetine. The most common implicated drugs in potentially severe interactions were warfarin; aspirin; fluoxetine; tramadol and allopurinol. Two contraindicated combinations were found; namely verapamil plus simvastatin; and hyoscine butyl bromide plus oral potassium chloride. Advancing age and polypharmacy were associated with an increased risk of potential drug-drug interactions. Input from the regional hospital specialist departments greatly increased the risk of a patient being given a prescription that contained a potential drug-drug interaction. Eighty one per cent of severe interactions were from this group. Conclusion: The potential for drug-drug interactions occurring was common in primary healthcare clinics in the George subdistrict. Drug interactions are predictable and preventable. The risk factors identified in this study may assist in the design of interventions that reduce the risk